Post navigation

Report Card: Flatiron Bar and Diner

Atmosphere:Grade B: On the inside, the best word to describe Flatiron Bar and Diner is small. The tight quarters do lend it a nice intimate feel. And, Flatiron is definitely more bar than diner. The décor is almost entirely bar, as though the tables were added as an afterthought. We had stopped there after a concert for a nightcap and decided to come back and try it again when the kitchen was open. Even with the tight quarters, the table spacing was such that we were not sitting right on top of our neighbors. We stopped by for the lunch service, and the place was not too loud even though it was packed by the time we left.

Service:Grade B+: Our server for lunch was Jenna. She did a really good job but we didn’t find anything about the service to be spectacular. We will give Jenna credit for being pretty knowledgeable about the menu and she really helped us decide on the fries for our side. Food came out after minimal wait and our order was accurate. However, she was not super-engaging, which led to a service that was just a little better than ho-hum.

Food/Spirits: Grade C: We have to admit to being disappointed with our food. Katina and I both settled on sandwiches: she ordered the pulled pork and I ordered the bbq beef brisket. Katina usually enjoys “Carolina” barbecue sauce, which is mustard based. However, she found this particular sauce to be a little too “mustardy.” My beef brisket came with a more traditional barbecue sauce, but I found it to have a funky aftertaste…almost like there was charcoal in it. While neither sandwich was bad, they were not awe-inspiring either. The highlight of the meal was the sweet and hot fries, which we upgraded to as our side. The fries were tossed in a mixture of vinegar, white cheddar, and red pepper flakes. They were indeed sweet and had a nice little kick to them. It was unfortunate that the rest of the food wasn’t on the same level as the fries.

Value:Grade C+: At around $29 for a couple of sandwiches, we found Flatiron to be a little too pricey based on the quality of food. Visit at your own risk. Truth be told you can probably find better offerings within walking distance.